Listen to the weekly Community Currency radio show on Progressive Radio Network 5- 6 pm (EST), Thursday, October 14, 2010 - to hear more about the California 9/11 Truth Commission Initiative with former Senator Mike Gravel (U.S.Senator from Alaska 1969-1981), best known for his courageous effort to read the Pentagon Papers into the public record. (He is featured in the documentary- The Most Dangerous Man in America) Senator Mike Gravel's passion has been Direct Democracy, which allows people to make laws, rather than allowing "elected representatives" exclusive ability to make the laws. He has also taken brave stances and spoken out against secrecy in government.

He supported and worked on the NYCCAN 2009 ballot initiative in New York City that would have established a local commission to conduct an impartial, evidence-driven investigation into the events of September 11, 2001. 80,000 New Yorkers signed the petition, far exceeding the requirement for the proposed City Charter amendment to be presented to the voters on the November ballot. However, the City of New York refused to place it on the ballot citing legal insufficiencies in the petition, and the State Supreme Court ruled in the City’s favor.

Senator Gravel is also relocating to California and has embarked on another project- the I LIKE MIKE TV Show, which is part comedy and part ‘Reality’ TV, in which a virally elected President- Mike Gravel is cleaning up Washington and putting military, financial execs and lobbyists in their place. A dozen or so short pilot episodes are posted online.

Here is the text of a message sent out to activists in California about the California 9/11 Truth Commission Initiative
As concerned citizens, we are joining together to raise funds to file an initiative in California to enact a "9/11 Truth Commission law." Once passed, this new commission untainted by politics and with subpoena powers to investigate 9/11 and its aftermath, the Afghan and Iraqi wars and the global War on Terror generally. Once the initiative process is under way in California, identical initiative measures will be filed in other initiative-enabled states such as Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, Ohio Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and others. These numerous filings will make the need for a new investigation of 9/11 a political issue in the presidential and congressional elections of November 2012.

Millions of people are aware of the problems with what we've been told happened on 9/11. To take just one thing, the freefall collapse of World Trade Center Building 7 looked exactly like a controlled demolition with explosives, and 1300 architects and engineers are calling for a new investigation, with subpoena power. I'm with a group that wants to implement this new investigation through a voter initiative. Could I count on your support?

The collapse of World Trade Center Building 7 on the afternoon of 9/11, an event that baffled engineers, now appears to be the most obvious of many smoking guns. Architects and engineers, scientists, military officers, and actors and artists have organized themselves, along with the Building What? Campaign, to seek the truth. Neither the Obama administration nor the US Congress has responded to repeated requests for a new investigation of 9/11. Mainstream media avoids the issue, taking its cue from government officialdom. Those contributing to ad hoc investigations, bringing forth new facts, are characterized as conspiracy nuts.

In order to evade the conspiracy characterization, our rhetoric will only focus on the need for a new investigation, devoid of the politics associated with earlier efforts. This strategy will be reinforced by the selection of distinguish persons to serve as commission members who will be identified in initiative filing documents ; some commissioners may be foreigners. Commission candidates will be recruited from the global 9/11 Truth Movement. The commissioners will appoint the all-important director of the commission.

In summary, a 9/11 Initiative campaign will:
Focus attention of the Global 9/11 Truth Movement on an actionable goal
Necessitate the raising of substantial funds to finance the initiative campaign
Have a website to facilitate citizen participation, fundraising, and financial transparency
Seek out and vet distinguished, qualified persons, to serve on the commission
File identical initiative measures in several states to make the 9/11 Initiative a national issue
Circumvent the government and the media by going directly to the people
Result in a commission with subpoena powers and the necessary public funding
Create an official body untainted by political interests able to pursue the facts surrounding 9/11 regardless of where they lead
We need your help.

He is accompanied on his travels by activist Jose Rodriguez. Rodriguez, Les Jamieson, Richard Gage, AIA, all encouraged and persuaded Senator Mike Gravel to "examine the evidence" and join the effort to push for a real investigation.

P.S. I had the pleasure of meeting both Jose Rodriguez and Senator Mike Gravel at the airport and taking them to our regular Northern California 9/11 Truth Alliance meeting and discovering that we had many friends in common. I believe there is a possibility of some very promising synergy between people and movements at this time, as long as we respect one another, listen to one another, and learn from our experiences, especially as we advance into uncharted waters and try to do things that have never been done before. I am learning new things about law, money, democracy, corporations, economics, politics, history, possibilities that amaze and inspire me. I am deeply grateful for all the work that has been done, in so many movements in the effort to end the rule of deception/force/empire/corporations and to move us towards truth/peace/justice/compassionate community.

what Americans should cherish so dearly are our freedoms, and our Constitution that gives us our freedoms. A republic might be defined as a nation whose laws are limited by a Constitution. A democracy does not require a Constitution. Not that Senator Gravel is doing this, but, just in general, if we ever would forget that we live in a republic - say, for example, if we started thinking we lived in a democracy - then, we might also forget that we have a Constitution. We give honor to our Founding Fathers, who, with God's blessing, gave us our Constitution whenever we refer to our nation as a republic. We seem to forget when we call it something else.

"Although I'm sure intentions are the best, I'm concerned about the time and money-sink this can become. Perhaps the organizers understand something we aren't aware of, i.e., maybe these types of efforts, regardless of outcome, bring the most money in, or something. But it would be nice to have an outcome . . .

The attorneys involved will be key to the effort, but unfortunately, the history of lawyerly efforts is less than stellar in the movement.

And contrary to the claims of the authors and promoters, the NYCCAN outcome had virtually NOTHING to do with the personal views of the judge, the 9/11 attacks or the cover-up or potential insider involvement, rather it had to do ONLY with legal methods being used incorrectly, flawed decision-making, etc. The below list could be applied to ANY initiative, regardless of content:

1) First, the federal government has jurisdiction over an investigation into the attacks that took place on September 11 as well as the causes of those attacks. Establishing a local commission to conduct such an investigation far exceeds the proper scope and purpose of the petition process of the MHRL.

2) Second, the petition fails to provide an adequate financing plan for the Commission as required by section 37 of the MHRL.

3) Third, the petition's method of designating Commissioners conflicts with state laws relating to the election or appointment of public officers and the residency of public officers.

4) Fourth, the petition over rearches in its attempt to confer a range of law enforcement and prosecutorial powers on the Commission.

5) Fifth, the subject of this proposed amendment to the Charter does not relate to an existing Charter provision as is required by section 37.

I believe the words I used over and over again were "set up to fail.""

I'd add that I'm completely shocked that LES JAMIESON is allowed any connection with any 9/11 action intended to be credible. Based on his participation I have absolutely no trust in anyone involved in this project or it's ability to succeed.

I think Victoria's comment is prudent, and there is nothing wrong with being prudent. But there is nothing wrong with thinking big, either. The slam on Les was unnecessary and it spoiled the points UR trying to make. But your slam illustrates another point -- that big endeavors like the proposed initiative and commission is ripe for heightening infighting and sabotage. We don't need any more of that.

Victoria is right that it could be a huge money-sink with no tangible or predictable outcome. It would cost millions of dollars. And if we're gonna try to raise and spend millions of dollars, I would personally rather see us buy some ad time during the Super Bowl, or something like that. Now THAT would rattle a few cages and we might get lucky and create a "Janet Jackson-like" buzz.

If nothing else, it's heartening to see people like Gravel joining our ranks and pushing us to reach for the stars. It's all good.

. . . if anything was learned from the nyc ballot initiative, it's to get expert legal opinion on how best to proceed as STEP ONE. i am sure that senator gravel is aware of this.

also, whereas in the history of nyc only one ballot initiative has ever succeeded (term limits, which mayor blumberg had the city council undo prior to the last mayoral election, so he could run again), california is much more accommodating to action by the citizenry. thus, senator gravel’s california initiative may in fact be a good way to proceed. fingers crossed. time will tell.

who has listened to the on-the-record questions I asked Sen. Gravel about this knows my position on it.

The #1 problem I have with this is that even if it is successful, the end product is then turned over to a clearly corrupt legal system.

I do think everyone should listen very closely to Sen. Gravel's statements and decide how (and if) they want to support it. I would include his recent presentation in Oakland on May 19 (there are some interesting and noteworthy things in there).

Together we have raised $90,000 in less than two months. Thank you for your generosity and incredible determination. Now our hard work and commitment are about to pay off.
For the last two weeks we have been negotiating to get the biggest bang for our buck. Because of election season, advertising rates are about three times the normal rate, and so we decided to push back the release until immediately after the election when rates are rock bottom.

As the deal stands now, the ad will be viewed almost 5 million times, and 500,000 New Yorkers will see it an average of 8 times each. It will run on the most popular cable shows and channels including the Daily Show, the Colbert Report, MSNBC and CNN, as well as a dozen smaller channels.

The contract will be finalized by the end of the week, at which time we will announce the exact dates the ad will be aired.

Thank you so much for your patience and support.

Sincerely,

The BuildingWhat? Team

For more details about the "BuildingWhat?" TV ad campaign, visit BuildingWhat.org

Currently, Nevada, California, Illinois, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Idaho, Colorado, Montana, Maine, Massachusetts, Alaska, Florida, Nebraska, Oklahoma, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas, Michigan, and Ohio allow voters to submit initiatives to the state ballot. Florida and Mississippi only allow amendments to the state constitution. Three more states, New Mexico, Kentucky, and Maryland, permit popular referendums, but not initiatives.

The first step in getting an initiative on the ballot is writing the text of the proposed initiative. Typically, a lawyer or team or lawyers performs this part of the task, to ensure that the text will be legal, clear, and enforceable. After the text of the initiative is written, it is submitted to a state official for review. This is usually the State Attorney General or the Secretary of State, and he or she writes an official title and summary for the initiative after reviewing it.

Former Senator Mike Gravel joined some of us in the 9-11 truth movement at our last Wednesday in May teleconference. We plan to have him back at the next one to pursue this promising campaign. The web site for this campaign is in its infancy, but perhaps there will be people here willing to help improve such an opportunity for a ballot in the 2012 election in Oregon and Alaska that would appoint a people's investigation into the events of September 11 with subpoena power and much world-wide exposure. The following is an excerpt from draft minutes of the teleconference

The first question asked of Senator Gravel regarded the timetable for his initiative for an independent 911 investigation. Senator Gravel responded that 24 states had an initiative process but that California was hard to do because persons being placed on a Commission required a constitutional change, while Oregon and Alaska had no such requirement and required far fewer signatures. Therefore, the latter two states were the focus efforts for the November 2012 election.

Senator Gravel explained his Citizens 9/11 Commission campaign would initiate a nationwide ballot initiatives to give voice to those requesting a new investigation of 9/11.

Senator Gravel reiterated that this ballot initiative was not a "referendum" nor fall into legal jurisdiction of a referendum, the main difference being that this "initiative" would be an initiative for, by and of the people and would function independently of the existing government. He has no hope for an official, independent investigation by the Congress, etc.

He reminded participants on the call that the demand to re-investigate 9/11 is not only a demand from American citizens, but by people worldwide. Due to global support, as well as national, Senator Gravel is mounting an effort to raise money for funding that will launch a state by state ballot initiative. He mentioned the possibility of a worldwide internet hookup event to raise the funds needed for the initiative, possibly coinciding with the 9/11 tenth anniversary.

The first step is to raise money. In order to raise money, awareness must be raised. Senator Gravel indicated that he himself is the contact person for now, but this should change shortly. Senator Gravel indicated that a bank account had been created, as had Paypal. Senator Gravel voiced optimism in regards to ability to raise money. Gravel is looking for a graphic designer to improve his web site. His core team includes Ken Jenkins and Cynthia McKinney.

This Citizen 9/11 Commission will convene with a commitment to go where the facts lead, and they will have subpoena power to compel testimony under oath and full investigative and legal support staff. The grand juries implemented by the initiative process would have members designated by the initiative itself and not be appointed by an existing court or a governor.

Joe Balter noted that the FBI has a program to fix voting results which may defeat the concept by foiling the voting process. Senator Gravel expressed awareness of the balloting problem, but suggested that there are ways to check the legitimacy of the voting results, such as exit polling. . . Senator Gravel accepted the invitation to participate in the next call. He stated that the website for the campaign is to be completed this week. www.citizens911commission.com/

What would this money go for? By what mechanism will it be accounted for? Who will control it? What are the priorities of the group pushing these initiatives?

Do you consider it ethical to raise money for something which does not legally even exist? (i.e. a legal ballot initiative in any state)

Who is on the ground in Oregon and Alaska to manage this effort?

Do preliminary versions of the proposed ballot initiatives for Oregon and Alaska exist? If so, can they be posted here. If not, why not?

Does it make sense to pour $100,000 or more into a ballot initiative when the electoral system is clearly corrupt and obviously manipulated by many of the same forces involved in the ongoing coverups?

Assuming the ballot initiative succeeds, does it makes sense to pour $100,000 or more into a commission that ultimately turns its work product over to a clearly corrupt legal system?

Please know that I am not against the ballot initiative concept, but there are far too many unanswered questions about this for me to support it at this time (and I barely scratched the surface on the questions that need to be asked and answered about this).

Thanks for taking the time to read this and respond. I look forward to reading your reply.

The truth shall set us free, and there are many ways to get the truth out there.

Love is the only way forward, and love is a verb, so LET"S GET BUSY, brothers and sisters!

Your questions indicate the sadness of life in America today. There is no trust. You don't even trust a man like Sen. Mike Gravel, who, along with Daniel Ellsberg, risked everything to reveal the truth of the Pentagon Papers. It is a bit early for anyone to possibly know everything about the Commission effort but I recommend that once the project is launched you invite one of the organizers to a meeting of your local 9/11 group to brief your group as a whole.

If you don't believe citizens can exert a positive power in their own governance then you will never be a fan of democracy. For my money, trusting the masses of my fellow citizens is our only hope in creating community and indeed civilization. Is it going to take work and an optimistic outlook? Sure it is. I don't understand why you think ballot initiatives aren't legal? And why shouldn't we donate our time and money towards making democracy work? Why are you so interested in how the effort is being organized in given states? Do you also not trust the organizational capabilities of others? A question for you might be, "Where do I sign up to help?" And do you really think that good citizens who accomplish a result after years of work will simply hand over the outcome without securing whatever justice demands? All over the country Americans are waking up to the demands of the New Democracy. Check out this short video collection of interviews from the recent Netroots Nation Conference.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ra5yuF0d-LE

I seems to me that instead of seeking a positive solution to the truth and justice we all want, you are unintentionally sowing the seeds of distrust. I think we should be working to restore trust as an American value. Give this project the time and attention it deserves before you jump to unfounded assumptions about the motives of its leaders. If you don't have trust you will never be comfortable with the will of the people. Given the cycles of history, I'm sure you have your reasons.

so I am going to assume the best regarding all your comments on this issue and give you some information you may not know.

(You may want to get something to drink before reading this, small joke)

Let me first say that there are many who think I take too tolerant or too naive a stance on some things, so your inference that I am too cynical and not trusting enough will not jibe with their view(s) of me and the approaches I take to issues and persons within the global truth community.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, of course, but said opinions should have a rational basis in fact, in this case fact based on behavioral observation. How long have you been observing my behavior as both a user and as a moderator on this site?

Now, let me answer your comments and questions point by point:

Your questions indicate the sadness of life in America today. There is no trust.

I think you are conflating a bit here, but I agree that the level of public trust in institutions and individuals (like Congress and former politicians) is at an all time low, and for good reason, agreed?

You don't even trust a man like Sen. Mike Gravel, who, along with Daniel Ellsberg, risked everything to reveal the truth of the Pentagon Papers.

How certain are you that you know the complete truth about the Pentagon Papers?

Author Russ Baker recently put forward an entirely new interpretation of Watergate that makes perfect sense and fills in some critical gaps (read his book Family of Secrets, if you have not already). This after how many years?

It is a bit early for anyone to possibly know everything about the Commission effort but I recommend that once the project is launched you invite one of the organizers to a meeting of your local 9/11 group to brief your group as a whole.

I'm not asking about everything and, as I have sat in more than one meeting in Berkeley with Sen. Gravel since before this was publicly announced (well over six months ago) and been briefed as thoroughly as anyone (in fact, one of the steering committee members told me at the last NorCal 9/11 Truth Alliance meeting that I “know everything he knows” about this) I think it is reasonable of me to state that I have done due diligence on this, and that when critical questions are asked and not answered for months, there may be a problem (perhaps only one of lagging transparency, but it is a lack of transparency that led to 9/11 and undergirds the ongoing 9/11 cover-ups, yes?).

Have you seen the proposed CA version of this ballot initiative? I have, and it isn't worthy of the time and money it will take to put it on the CA ballot in the manner proposed, imo. I hasten to add that I am far from alone in this conclusion.

If you don't believe citizens can exert a positive power in their own governance then you will never be a fan of democracy.

Why are you conflating my questioning what a very small group of people are doing (and how they are doing it) with the “positive power” of citizens? Exactly what is democracy, as you define it?

If you actually knew me or had read my comments over the years here, I think you would see someone who very much embraces the power of the people to make positive change. It seems to me that you are the one deferring to authority here, not me [yet another lesson from 9/11, don't automatically defer to any authority but your own (informed authority)].

For my money, trusting the masses of my fellow citizens is our only hope in creating community and indeed civilization. Is it going to take work and an optimistic outlook? Sure it is.

I agree that building sustainable communities involves trust. I think we must first make certain that said masses are well informed and have a commitment to transparency, so that everyone can remain well informed as we move forward. Once again, it is a complete lack of transparency that was a major factor in creating the New American Nightmare we are now living in.

At the risk of blowing my own horn, I think you will be hard pressed to find anyone in the truth movement (except maybe Richard Gage, who I work closely with, so I know) who works harder on more things than I do (I am basically a full time 9/11 activist and have been for years).

I don't understand why you think ballot initiatives aren't legal?

I have never said any such thing. Here, I think you are completely misreading what I wrote. I said:

Do you consider it ethical to raise money for something which does not legally even exist? (i.e. a legal ballot initiative in any state)

Note that I am not stating that ballot initiatives aren't legal, as a Californian believe me I know they are legal (Prop 13, anyone?).

No, what I am asking is if it is ethical to raise money to promote a document that does not actually have any legal standing (the CA version) or money for the idea of a ballot initiative in other states where even the preliminary legwork has not been shown to have been done (all the other states).

Have you ever bought a car without even seeing it first? Would you buy a $100,000 car without test driving it pretty thoroughly. Please see due diligence above.

And why shouldn't we donate our time and money towards making democracy work?

How does not doing due diligence make democracy work better?

I think you have it backwards here, my friend. Democracies turn into emotion driven mob rule without transparency and rational discourse.

Why are you so interested in how the effort is being organized in given states?

I am an activist and an organizer, so it is rather natural for me to make these inquiries. Additionally, this was first pitched as a CA initiative and is now being pitched to Californians as something we should fund in other states, yet to be determined. If I'm buying a car for someone else I want to make sure they won't total it the first week and that they will actually put gas in it and drive it to work.

Do you also not trust the organizational capabilities of others? A question for you might be, "Where do I sign up to help?"

Trust is earned every day in the truth movement (please see Fetzer, Reynolds, Wood, et al). It is hard to trust people who remain unidentified or who have questionable track records (I suggest you contact Dwayne Hunn on this point).

As for helping...I was the lead producer and video crew member for the recent Gravel/Bowman/Gage/Phillips/McGrade event held at the Humanist Hall in Oakland (have you listened to the audio archive of this? There's also a dvd. The event was SRO, btw)

I could also bore you with a long list of all the other events I have either produced, help produce or did audio/video work on over the last 4+ years.

And do you really think that good citizens who accomplish a result after years of work will simply hand over the outcome without securing whatever justice demands?

Finally, we get to the heart of the matter. Ever hear the expression “ a stitch in time saves nine”?

I would much rather do the due diligence at the front end then bemoan a lost opportunity at the back end (analyze NYCCAN objectively).

There is also the expression “been there, done that, don't want to go there again”. (sigh)

All over the country Americans are waking up to the demands of the New Democracy.

Please email me with your definition of “the New Democracy” and any relevant links. It is off topic in this thread.

I (sic) seems to me that instead of seeking a positive solution to the truth and justice we all want, you are unintentionally sowing the seeds of distrust.

Since when is asking questions that need to be asked and demanding answers that make sense “unintentionally sowing the seeds of distrust” ? Once again, I'm merely doing due diligence on this and you are now treading on a very slippery slope (remember “you're either with us or against us”?)

I'm not setting aside my life while I do 9/11 activism in order to be popular, I'm in this to raise consciousness and create the world we all want to live in, with a healthy portion of justice and/or reconciliation being part of the first meal at the communal table.

If someone appears to be a bad driver or have no sense of direction, are you going to just buy them the car and let them go on their merry way? That's not how it works in my family (and yes, this is very much my family, warts and all).

I think we should be working to restore trust as an American value.

How do you propose we do that? Might it not involve a high degree of transparency and accountability?

Give this project the time and attention it deserves before you jump to unfounded assumptions about the motives of its leaders.

If I have not already adequately addressed this assertion, please ask for further clarification and/or information. Recall that I have been as close as anyone on the outside of this can get since it was first proposed quietly to the NorCal 9/11 TA in Berkeley last October 7th .

Do you believe that you have sufficient information to make a well-founded defense of this proposal and all its proponents?

If you don't have trust you will never be comfortable with the will of the people.

A rational person can only fully trust themselves, as human reality is primarily a subjective experience. Thus, I can only trust “the will of the people” when it is in general accordance with my own will, anything else simply is not rational.

Sadly, I cannot yet state that that is the case with this ballot initiative at this time. It is possible that all the questions that I and many others have will be answered tomorrow, and the answers will make sense. This would be quite welcome, as my present position on this puts me at odds with someone I have worked very closely with, and respected, for years.

In closing, I would be remiss if I did not state that I actually support the concept of state ballot initiatives, as well as a national initiative. But we have another saying in my family...

Do it right the first time.

I hope that you and yours are well.

The truth shall set us free, but how do we find the truth.

Love is the only way forward and sometimes love means asking hard questions and demanding answers that make sense.